Vertical venetian blind



March 25, 41958 M. E. ACHLER a1-A; 2,827,956

' VERTICAL VENETIAN BLIND Filed March 27, 1952 4 Sheets-Sheet 1 f rn 6 e 1 4 af@ zoo l 7a4 l y ff;

l/Z/l 252 v I l l d ze.; C250 32 ,24 2386 5 I, if INVENTORS: Mau/ice EdzIe/I and March 25, 1958 M. E. AcHLER ET AL VERTICAL VENETIAN BLIND Filed March 27, 1952 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 March 25, 1958 M. E. ACHLER ETAL 2,827,956

VERTICAL VENETIAN BLIND Filed March 27, 1952 4 Sheets-Sheet 3 Mardi 25, 1958 M. E. ACHLER ET AL 2,827,956

VERTICAL VENETIAN BLIND Filed March 27, 1952 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 142 United States Patent :O

VERTICAL VENEIIAN BLIND A-ll/Iaurice E. Achlertand vAlbert H. Milstine, Chicago, Ill.,

This invention `relates ato Venetian fbliniis, .and is `concerned more particularly Aiwithyertical 'Venetian lblinds.

`An Aobject :of :our invention .is to :provide Aa vertical Venetian blind whose -tslatsiare readily :removable .and replaceable-andieasyfto clean.

VAnother Objectis to provide :a *vertical Venetian .'blin'd having Ia `.group `.of slats eadapted :to :be progressively tcollapsed and extended.

A further Objectis to provide .a-vertical Menetianblind whose parts (are adapted tio be treadily :assembled `'and disassembled.

It `is falso an object itogprovideia Menetianblind in which ,preselected groups of slats :may .be separated toany desiredextent..

An additional :object :is to provide :a ivertica'l Venetian `blind 1in iwhich lbulging of `the `slats in precluded.

'I-t is a further object -to provide-an .improved .mounting Vfor the `slats of a vertical lVenetian blind.

.Another object is @to provide improved .'slat :suspending structure.

It is .also anobject toprovide alvertical l:Venetianvblind iwhich `may be .manufactured =at low tcost :and quickly :installed in a window. j

.Further objects .and advantages of vthe invention will appear as thedescription proceeds.

The .invention will bebetter iunderstood upon reference `to Vthe .following description and :accompanying drawings, in which:

Fig. ,1 isa front elevational viewlofsanaembodiment of the invention .comprising Atwo groups oft-slats l.installed in 1a window frame, `the slats being adjusted -in gnou-'overa lapped uniformly .spaced lrelation, and the facia 'boards beingomitted.

Fig. 2,`is similar .to Fig. .1 but .shows ithe slats "adjusted into two separatedgroups.

v3 4is an enlargement of a portion `of the upper structure appearing in Fig. 1.

Fig. 4 is a sectional view taken asjindicated by .the line 4 4 ini-iig. "3.

Fig. 5 is a view, partly in sectionand partly inelevation, takenY as indicated "by v.the line 5 -5 4in Fig. 4 .and showing details `of `the left corner construction of the blind, including the mechanism lfor adjusting thel degree `of tilt ofthe slats, the ,slats being heres'hown as in Fig. 2.

Figs. .6, 7,` and [8 are ,sectional views taken as indicated bythe lines 6 6, `7-l7 and8- 8, respectivelyfin Fig. 5.

Fig. 9 is a front View, partly .in elevation and partly `in section, .showing .a few .of .the slats vin fully lappednrelation.

Fig. l0 isa sectional view .takenasindicated by the line E10- 10 in Fig. .9, showing also in dot-dash lines the disposition of ,the :slats Whenthecontrol tube is fully turned in the reverse direction.

Eig. -11 is a `detail of a-.sectionof the `bottomzchain ap- `peaing in Fig. 9.

Fig. l2 is an isometric view of :one of .the sliders.

Fig. 13 is taken inthe same 4plane .as Fig. yShut shows 2,827,956 .Patented Mar. 25 1958 ICS "the connections `withtlle `traverse cord vand also the 'cen- Ytering-structure :for a double section blind.

Fig. 14 is -an 'enlarged sectional `view `taken'as indicated by the line 14-14in Fig. 1'3.

1Fig. l1"5 is =tken in `the same hplane as Fig. 5 'butshows the right upper installation vbracket and 'associated structure.

Figs. .lr6 and `-17 Vare respectively sectional uand plan views taken -as indicated fbyffthelines "16e-'1,6 and 1'7-117 in Fig. 15.

`Fig. 1'8 is `similar lto Fig. lf3 fbut lshows-a modification.

Figs. 219 fandZ'O are sectional'views taken as indicated 'by the lines 19-'1-9 and 'Z0-420, respectively, in Fig. 18.

Fig. Ztl is similar to the 'bottom 'ofFig. E9 but `shows 'a modification.

JFig. .22 is a sectional view-taken as indicated by the Ilin-ezZ-ZZ in 1\Fig.`2'l.

7 Referring now Amore particularly lto-fthe drawings, Adisclosing .illustrative embodiments lof the invention, there is shown La `windowcasing 28 in which is installed avertical Venetian blind constructed in accordance with one form of rthe xnvention. The b'lind comprises a left installation 4bracket .30 :'hfavingla .web 321secured as kby screws 34.10 `the :upper left side 36 :ofthe casing 'Z8 and'having a Arear flange .38 with ailower upstanding-lip 40for the reieasable reception 4of ia .rear faoia b'oard 42. A supplemental bracket 144 `=is riveted .as at 46 or 'otherwise `suitably 'connected tto-,the installation bracket 30 and may-have a vlower voutwardly entendingange 48 which may abut thebracket 4web :32, .and has .an opstanding portion 150 journaling -a horizontal .stud Sillon Awhich a -gear .sector 56 is mounted, whereby the gear sector is tiltable about the axis of the stud. The 4igea-r sector 156 has a substantially ring-like extension 60 .embracing the `left end portion L62 lof 'a .horizontal rod .66 `whirh is preferably in `the form of a `tube having throughout the flengththereof `a :slot 68 lin `which aa -tongue $70 on .-said extension projects, -so that .theatube will rotate with the :gear sector.

The yoke76 `is clinched cas ratUS or otherwise suitably attached .to the portion -'50 tof ithe `supple'mentfil bracket 44, afhorizontal5shaftv80 is .journaled between the portion .50 andthe :arms-82\of1the'yoke, and aworm 84 integral withfor fixed fto ithe `shat Lis :in mesh with -thewgear sector 56;, :the portion :50` being cnt away ras .at 85 to provide clearance :for thewvorm; The shaft ha`s an outer end .86 .to which '.is fkeyed for otherwise 'aiiixed a vs'hcave l88 .over which runsa tilt-cord 90, and a jtilt-*cord `guide 92 is monntedabout said shaft end and `has projections, one ofv which .is shown at94,.for engagement with the porti-on 50 and yoke, respectivelygptodimit tilt fof the -guideepursuant .tofpullfofft-he cord. Lt will Inow be Aapparent that when `:the .-tassel 10.0 attached tto :one end por-tion 102 -ofihe cord 9.0 .is pulled, the-tubef will be turned in one direction, .andfwhen the tassel Ai011 is attachedto the other end `portion 106 :of the .cord is pulled, the tube :will be turnedin `the Aopposite direction.

.A bracket lelementi `108ipivotefd at 111Mo the flower 'front portion-ofthe installationbrac'ket Sois-formed to receive andy `retainthe iront facia `board 112. The ifacia boards l2-and i112 fare y'for the :most partomitted Afrom other 'iigures ofthe Adrawings Ain A:order that more essential parts of` `the invention :may be rshown.

A right upper `installation bracket 1-1'4 iits the upper right corner lof'zthe casing `28 Jand lincludes a -web 11'6 screwed or otherwise `attached tothe right side 118 of thewcasing. .Axyoke 1Z0-.has wings T122 at the 1free ends of fits arms `1.2.4, :and :rivets .1-2'6 or the like fasten said wings to the web :116. Two sheaves 127 and 128 `separatedbyra fspacer,Elaneidisposed .about an axle -132 journaled in fthe-yoke` farmsl 124, `-the :axle being vinclined upward toward tthefront` .(ii'. e., :the inner fparto the portion 138 of the tube 66, said bearing being coaxial with the gear sector 56. Clearance is afforded at 140 between the top 142 of the'casing 28 and the upper parts 144 of the arms 124 to enable the right end 138 of the tube 66, after it has been moved to the right out of the extension 60, to be lifted out of the bearing 136 and then moved forward in the space 140 and then pulled free. Provision maybe made to prevent acidental escape of the tube 66. It is obvious that-by reverse movements the tube 66 may be installed in the position shown.

The slats 150 may be formed of sheet aluminum, steel, or other metal, or of wood, plastic or other suitable materiaL-but are preferably formed of sheet steel transversely bowed substantially as shown, with centered holes 152 at the upper ends 154 thereof for the releasable reception of hooks 156 formed to causethe slats to rotate therewith. Each hook 156 has an extension 158 formed with a slot 160 through which a piece of tape 162 is looped, the two ends 164 of the tape being disposed between a washer 166 and a strip of tape 168 over which is disposed the bight 170 of a generally U-shaped slider 172, and in this arrangement fastened together as by a hollow rivet 174. The arms 176 of each slider 172 have wings 178 daring away from each other, and the proximate portions 188 of the arms are adapted to be extended into the tube slot 68 and slidably engage the tube 66 adjacent the sides 182 of the slot. The several slats 150 are adapted in this way to be assembled with the tube 66.

The sliders 172 are arranged in two strings 186 in the illustrated embodiment of the invention, each string including a tape 168 by which the several sliders are connected in succession.

When the tube 66 is arranged with its slot 66V1owermost, the intermediate portions 190 of the folded tapes 162, and consequently the slats 150, extend in planes substantially parallel to the sides of the casing 28. When the tube 66 is turned from that position, each tape 162 follows the path of least resistance pursuant to the gravity pull of the associated slat, with the result that the tape turns gradually in front of the rivet 174, thereby turning the associated slat. Thus when the tube 66 is turned to the fullest extent, the intermediate portion 190 of each tape extends in a' plane substantially parallel to the axis of the tube, and consequently the slat 150 associated therewith extends in substantially the same plane, so that the several slats are in such overlapped relation as to block thepassage of light. The tube 66 will remain in any position to which it is adjusted by the tiltcord 102, and the position of the tube determines the angles which the slats make with the Window. A l

A sheave 194 is journaled in the arms 196 of ayoke 198 lhaving opposite struck-out tongues 200 engaging the left extremity 202 Vof the tube 66, the arms having spring ends 204 which resiliently and frictionally engage opposite portions ofthe inner surface 286 of the tube and thus detachably retain the sheave in the tube. YA traverse pull cord 210 is looped about the sheave 194, the portions 212 and 214'of said cord, extending to the right from said sheave, passing along and within the tube 66 and out of the end 138 of the tube and being engaged with the respective sheaves 127 and 128, from which they depend and terminate in tassels 216 and 218, respectively. The cord portion 212 between the sheave 194 and the end 138 of the tube 66 in one form of the invention extends through a spring loop 228 disposed over the hollow rivet 174 associated with the innermost slider 172 of one string 186, and a screw 221 threaded to a sleeve extension 222 of the loop presses against the loop and binds the cord portion 212 therein so that said innermost slider will move with said cord portion. The other cord portion 214 is similarly connected wit-h the innermost end slider 172 of the other string 186. It is therefore apparent that when one cord portion 212 is pulled, both strings 186, and accordingly the group of slats associated therewith, will be collapsed, and when the other cord portion 214 is pulled, the strings and slats will be reextended.

A chain 224, such as a pull chain, extends horizontally below the lower ends of the slats 150 of each group, the outer end 226 of each chain being connected as by a spring 228 to the adjacent side wall of the casing 28, and

the inner ends of the chains being provided with respec tively an eye 238 and a hook 232 so that the chains may be detaehably coupled. When the :chains 224 are coupled, they extend in substantially a straight line, as shown. In one form of the invention, hooks 234 connect and are swiveled to chain sections 235 and are adapted to be passed through holes 236 arranged centrally at the lower ends 238 of the slats 150, and when the hooksY are disposed in said holes, the bottoms of the slats are held in substantially a straight line directly below and parallel to the tube 66. The arms 240 of the hooks 234 are preferably relatively flat so as to turn with the slats 150. The upper hooks 156 are similarly formed so that the slats 150 and upper hooks will turn together. To assemble the slats 150 with the several hooks 156 and 234, the slats are placed with their upper holes 152 at the tips of the upper hooks and angled very slightly and then-lowered into the upper hooks to be suspended thereby, and the lower hooks 234 may then be raised and slipped through the holes in the lower ends of the slats; and by reverse action, the slats may be removed. It will beobvious from the description and the drawings that the task of applying and removing the'slats is an exceedingly simple one.

The sheaves 127 and 1 28 are arranged with their axis inclined upward toward the room due to the fact that when either tassel 216 or 218 is pulled, it is generally moved toward the person pulling it as well as downward, so that the direction of pull is in a line inclined somewhat forward and downward. Thus the direction of pull is in the plane of the groove of the sheave involved, so that resistance is minimized.

The slats 150 may be of any suitable width, but are preferably two inches Wide, and the sliders 172, when the strings are fully extended, are then arranged 1% on centers, so that the slats, when fully overlapped, lap one another 1A.

A stiff center piece 250 is disposed between the innermost sliders 172, as shown in Fig. 13, and is supported by the tube 66 by means of a slider 252 extending through the tube slot 68 and riveted as at 254 or otherwise suitably connected tothe center piece. When the center piece 250 is engaged by the innermost end sliders 172, the slider strings are fully extended. The length of the center piece 250 is such that, when engaged by the innermost end Vsliders 172, said sliders are spaced 1% on centers so as to preserve the uniformity of the spacing throughout the entire blind.

A modified center construction and traverse cord anchoring means is shown in Fig. 18. In this form of the invention, the innermost end sliders 172 are like the remaining sliders of the strings, and are riveted as at 258 to tongues 260 formed on stii center plates 262 adapted to mutually abut at 264 when the strings are fully extended. When the platesr262 so abut, the adjacent sliders 172 are spaced apart 13A" on centers to preserve uniformity of spacing throughout the entire width of the blind when fully extended. Each plate 262 has a depressed relatively narrow tongue, and the cord portions 212 and 214 are looped about these tongues and are tightly held thereby so that the plates and cord portions movein unison.

A modified lower hook construction is shown in Figs.

' 21 and 22, and comprises hooks 270 riveted as at 272 to the lower'ends of the slats 150, the hooks engaging in upper eyes 274 of short pull chain members 276 havi lower eyes 278 looped about suitablyspacedlinks ,of Japttom. chains 280 corresponding totherchains 224.

Marions modifications "may suggest themselves to ythose skilledinthe art without departing from `:the spirit (of `our inyention. Hence we do not wish to .be restricted to the specific forms shown or uses mentioned, except -to the .extentindicated in the appended claims, -Which are to be interpreted as broadly asthe stateof `the art will permit.

We claim:

`l. In a vertical Venetian blind, a horizontal tube having a straight slot throughout its length and supported for rocking about a horizontal axis, a series of sliders supported by said tube and each having a portion extending through said slots, the outermost surface of each of said portions being substantially flat, a flexible foldable tape having a first portion secured contiguously to each of said slider surfaces, the securing means including a single fastening element passing through said first tape portion substantially medially of the widththereof, said element having a substantially circular head portion, said tape having a second portion depending in angular relation from said first tape portion substantially at an edge of said circular head portion, the line of juncture between said first and second portions being caused to progressively shift along the edge of said circular head portion as said tube is rocked in one direction or another, and a slat suspended from each of said second tape portions.

2. ln a vertical Venetian blind, a horizontal tube having a straight slot throughout its length and supported for rocking about a horizontal axis, a series of sliders supported by said tube and each having a portion extending through said slot, the outermost surface of each of said portions being substantially fiat, exible foldable means connecting said slides in successive relation, a flexible foldable tape having a first portion secured contiguously to each of said slider surfaces, the securing means including a sin gle fastening element passing through said first tape portion substantially medially of the Width thereof, said element having a substantially circular head portion, said tape having a second portion depending in angular relation from said first tape portion substantially at an edge of said circular head portion, the line of juncture between said first and second portions being caused to progressively shift along the edge of said circular head portion as said tube is rocked in one direction or another, and a slat suspended from each of said second tape portions.

3. In a vertical Venetian blind, a horizontal tubehaving a straight slot throughout its length and supported for rocking about a horizontal axis, a series of sliders supported by said tube and each having a portion extending through said slot, the outermost surface of each of said portions being substantially fiat, flexible foldable tapes each having first and second portions, a single fastening element securing the first portion of said tapes contiguously to respective slider surfaces, said fastening element having a tape engaging portion having a convexly curved edge extending transversely across said tape portion, the second portion of each of said tapes depending in angular relation from the first portion substantially at said convexly curved edge, the line of juncture between said first and second tape portions being caused to progressively shift along said convexly curved edge as said tube is rocked in one direction or another, and a slat depending from each of said second tape portions.

4. In a vertical Venetian blind, a horizontal tube having a straight slot throughout its length and supported for rocking about a horizontal axis, a`series of sliders supported by said tube and each having a portion extending through said slot, the outermost surface of each of said portions being substantially flat, flexible foldable tapes each having first and second portions, flexible foldable means connecting said slides in successive relation, a single fastening element securing the first portions of said tapes and said flexible foldable means to respective slider surfaces, said .fastening .element `having a -f-tape engaging portion having a convexly curved edge extending transversely across said tape portion, the second portion -ofeach .ofsaid tapes depending inangular relation from the first portion substantially at said convexly curved edge, the line of juncture between said first and second tape portions being caused to progressively shift along said convexly curved edge as said tube vis rocked in vone .direction or another, and a slat depending from each :of lsaid second tape portions.

5. ln a vertical Venetian blind, a horizontal member supported for rocking about a horizontal axis, a series of sliders supported by said member and each having an outer surface which is substantially flat, a flexible foldable tape having a first portion secured contiguously to each of said slider surfaces, the securing means including a single fastening element passing through said first tape portion substantially medially of the Width thereof, said element having a substantially circular head portion, said tape having a second portion depending in angular relation from said first tape portion substantially at an edge of said circular head portion, the line of juncture between said first and second portions being caused to progressively shift along the edge of said circular head portion as said member is rocked in one direction or another, and a slat suspended from each of said second tape portions.

6. In a vertical Venetian blind, a horizontal member supported for rocking about a horizontal axis, a series of sliders supported by said member and each having an outer surface which is substantially fiat, flexible foldable means connecting said slides in successive relation, a flexible foldable tape having a first portion secured contiguously to each of said slider surfaces, the securing means including a single fastening element passing through said first tape portion substantially medially of the width thereof, said element having a substantially circular head portion, said tape having a second portion depending in angular relation from said first tape portion substantially at an edge of said circular head portion, the line of juncture between said first and second portions being caused to progressively shift along the edge of said circular head portion as said member is rocked in one direction or another, and a slat suspended from each of said second tape portions.

7. In a vertical Venetian blind, ai horizontal tube mounted to rotate about a horizontal axis and having a horizontal slot therethrough, a string of sliders supported by and rotatable with said tube and extending in said slot, flexible foldable means connecting said slides in successive relation, a slat for each slider, means suspending each slat from a slider, said means comprising a flexible tioldable tape having a first portion secured contiguously to an outer surface of each slider, the securing means including a single fastening element passing through said first tape portion substantially medially of the width thereof, said fastening element having a substantially circular'head portion, said tape having a second portion depending in angular relation from said first tape portion substantially at an edge of said circular head portion, said means being constructed and arranged to automatically turn said slats about substantially vertical axes pursuant to rotation of said tube, the line of juncture between said first and second tape portions being caused to progressively shift along the edge of said circular head portion as said tube is rocked in one direction or another, a sheave adjacent an end of and rotatable with said tube, a traverse cord looped about said sheave, both portions of said cord extending directly from said sheave Within and along said tube, one portion of said cord within said tube being connected to an end slider of said string whereby said cord is operative to selectively collapse and extend said string, and means for turning said tube about said axis.

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